Grace Darling =
Grace Darling (1815-1842), English heroine and lighthouse keeper's
daughter, famous for her rescue of castaways in 1838.}
I bowed an assent to the remark.
"And then she herself actually once made proposals for
Schinderhannes, to a friend of mine, offering Howard, the
philanthropist, Talma, William Penn, and Fenelon for him--all
commonplace enough, you know--and Schinderhannes quite unique.
My friend was indignant!"
{Schinderhannes = German bandit chief, executed in 1803. Howard =
John Howard (1726-1790), English philanthropist and prison reformer.
Talma = Francois Talma (1763-1826), popular French playwright.
William Penn (1644-1718), Quaker founder of Pennsylvania. Fenelon
= Francois Fenelon (1651-1715), French Archbishop and writer}
I ventured to excuse Lady Holberton by suggesting that probably at
the time her stock of notabilities was low.
Miss Rowley shook her head, and curled her lip, as if she fancied the
lady had only been seeking to drive a hard bargain.
"On one point, however, I have carried the day, Mr. Howard. Lady
Holberton is not a little proud of her Vidocq; but I have obtained one
far superior to hers, one addressed to myself so piquant and gallant
too. I called on the dear old burglar on purpose to coax him into
writing me a note."
{Vidocq = Francois Vidocq (1775-1857), French police detective who
turned robber, and was exposed in 1832.
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